BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 2: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics dribbles
Despite his disappointing performance in the NBA Finals, Kyrie Irving opened up about his time in Boston, a topic of great significance for NBA fans and potential Celtics players.
Before a decisive game five, the former Celtic reflected on his time in Beantown and sent a warning to other players.
“The community is what makes the Celtics great here, the Boston pandemonium. That’s what makes the space so loud and so special, and they take pride in it.
“If any player is coming here, getting drafted here, thinking about coming here in free agency, you’re getting traded, I just think, do your homework and make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
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Irving became public enemy #1 when suiting up in T.D. Garden during the NBA Finals. The crowd jeered whenever he touched the ball and sometimes went over the line. The PG tried to jaw back, saying after game one that he thought the crowd would be louder.
However, the spat with the fans spilled over into the Duke alum’s play as he scored under 20 points in every game at the Garden compared to his over 50% shooting when the series shifted back to Dallas.
The Celtics traded for Irving a month before the 2017-2018 season began, shipping four players and two picks out to the Cavaliers. Irving told the Garden crowd a year later that he wanted to re-sign in Boston, but soon, the bottom fell out of the relationship. He left as a free agent and signed with the Brooklyn Nets, and a bitter hatred grew between the player and fans, even as Irving stayed close with those on the Boston roster.
After losing in five games, Irving was a good sport and shook hands with every player and coach on the Celtic bench when Head Coach Jason Kidd checked him out of the game.
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